Coating apparatus



March 12, 6 A. DI MATTlA I COATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 2, 1966 INVENTORALFRED Old/A7771! ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,372,673 COATING APTARATUS Alfred DiMattia,Williarnstown, Ni, assignor to Edward Stern Majestic Press, Inc.,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 2, 1966,Ser. No. 591,485 10 Ciaims. (Cl. 118--22l) ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCLGSUREThis disclosure is directed to a coating apparatus having a groovedroller which transfers coating material from a trough to a surface. Thegrooved roller receives the coating material directly from the trough,thus eliminating transfer rollers, and applies a consistent width thinstrip of coating material to a surface.

This invention is directed to a coating apparatus and more particularlytoa coating apparatus which can be utilized to apply coating material toa surface in a quicker, more efficient and less expensive manner.

In general, prior art coating apparatus utilized a plurality of coatingmaterial containers and a series of transfer rolls which cooperated withthe coating material containers. conventionally, paste would fiow fromthe coating material containers onto a first transfer roll, due to theeffect of gravity. The first transfer roll would contact a secondtransfer roll of substantially identical size. The second transfer rollwould normally contact a coating roller which would be mounted in themachine frame. The main roller would contact paper and transfer coatingmaterial such as adhesive thereto. The first and second rollers weremerely transfer wheels which were positioned below the coating materialcontainers and cooperated with the main coating roller.

The transfer wheels were necessary since direct flow of coating materialonto the coating roller resulted in uneven application of coatingmaterial on the surface to be coated. The coating material would iiowalong the coating roller and the surface to be coated would receive anuneven strip of coating material rather than the desired consistent thinstrip of coating material.

The present invention has particular utility in coating thin strip ofadhesive onto paper. In the past, transfer rolls were necessary toensure transfer of only a thin strip of adhesive to the coating rollerand the paper. However, whenever a jam-up or delay in machine operationoccurred the coating roller would stop rotating and the adhesive wouldspread along the surface thereof. This necessitated a thorough cleaningof the coating roller and thus, substantial delays were encountered.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate transfer rollersand individual coating material containers and to deliver coatingmaterial from a Single trough directly to a grooved roller.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coatingapparatus wherein coating material is delivered from the trough throughconduits directly to a cotating roller, which roller coats the materialonto a surface and moves the surface past the coating roller so thatfurther operation can be performed thereon.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a coatingapparatus which is faster and less expensive than prior art coatingapparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coatingapparatus which is more effective than prior art coating apparatus andwhich results in a superior final product.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide acoating apparatus which may be in line with a tions may be performedthereon.

3,372,673 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 folding and cutting apparatus and whichfunctions at the same speed as said folding and cutting apparatus.

It is yet nother object of the present invention to provide a coatingapparatus which coats a surface with a consistent width thin strip ofcoating material.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The above enumerated and other objects are accomplished by means of thepresent invention. The present invention eliminates transfer wheels andthe individual coating material containers which cooperate therewith.Instead, the present invention provides a trough having a plurality ofconduits attached thereto. The conduits are provided with petcocks andmay also be provided with a main shut-off means which opens or closeseach of the conduits simultaneously. The consistency of the coatingmaterial, such as adhesive, is thinner than that used in prior artdevices so that easier flow of such coating material is obtained. Thethinning of the coating material also substantially reduces problemswhich may arise with respect to clogging of the conduits, trough and thecoating roller.

The conduits deposit coating material directly onto a coating roller.The roller has ribs on its periphery so that it facilitates movement ofthe surface which is to be coated through the machine. At selectedpoints along the roller, deep circumferential grooves are cut. Thegrooves are spaced approximately one-quarter of an inch apart andtherefore define therebetween a portion of a roller being approximatelyonequarter inch in width. The conduits are adapted to deposit coatingmaterial upon the quarter inch portion of the roller. The deep groovesare necessary to prevent the coating material from spreading over theentire roller and thus fouling the coating apparatus. The deep groovesare also provided so that overflow of coating material may be receivedtherein should the machine jam or momentarily discontinue operation.This prevents overflow from contacting the remainder of the roller whilethe flow of coating material is being stopped by closing the petcocks inthe conduits. The number of sets of grooves in each roller will bedetermined by the number of lines of coating material which are to bedeposited on the surface which is being coated. After the coatingmaterial has been deposited onto the surface, the coating roller feedsthe surface past the coating station so that further opera- The furtheroperations may include folding and cutting the paper adjacent the linesof coated material.

A superior product is obtained by use of the present invention. Thisinvention has particular utility in coating adhesive onto paper which isto be folded and sealed. The paper may thereafter be cut along thecoated material lines. The final product is superior since the thinneradhesive dries faster and produces a superior more consistent bond.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this. invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a section view of the coating apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a section view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of paper traveling past the groovedroller of the coating apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 there apparatus indicated generally Thecoating apparatus 10 has is shown coating by reference numeral 10. aframe 12 which supports P a trough 14.

The trough 14 may have material 16 therein which material is to becoated onto surface. The material 16 may be an adhesive or other similarmaterial. Conduits 18 are attached at the base 26 of the trough 14.Conduits 18 may be connected to the base of the trough 14 in any desiredmanner such as by welding or a threaded engagement of the conduits withthe base of the trough. Any desired number of conduits 18 may beprovided.

Each of the conduits 18 has a petcock 22 positioned approximatelyequidistant the ends of each conduit. This permits easy access to thepetcocks. The petcocks 22 may limit the amount of coating material 16which flows through the conduits 16.

A support bar 24 is fixedly attached to the frame 12. The support bar 24supports each of the conduits 155. The support bar 24 may be connectedto the frame 12 in any conventional manner, such as by means of nuts 26or any other suitable means.

A coating roller 28 is supported by the frame 12. The coating roller hasits ends journaled for rotation in the frame 12. The coating roller 28is mounted over a driven roller 30. The axis 32 of the coating roller 28is offset with respect of the axis 34 of the driven roller 30. Thisoffset relationship enables the rollers to flex the surface to be coateddownwardly as it passes therebetween. The downward flexing of thesurface facilitates movement of the surface to the next operation.

Both the coating roller 28 and the driven roller 39 have ribbing 36 and38 respectively on the outer surfaces thereof. The ribbing 36 and 3Sfacilitates gripping and movement of the surface to be coated throughthe machine.

The coating roller 28 has a plurality of grooves 4-0 therein. Thegrooves 40 are approximately one-quarter inch in Width and approximatelyone-quarter inch in depth. Each pair of grooves defines an isolatedoriginal diameter portion 42 of the roller 28 therebetween. Only onegroove 40 is provided at each end of the roller 28 to provide anisolated original diameter portion. Each of the conduits 18 terminateadjacent an isolated original diameter portion 42 on the coating roller28. Grooves 40' similar to grooves 40 in coating roller 28 may beprovided in driven roller 30. The grooves may also define isolatedoriginal diameter portions 42' on the driven roller 30. By providingroller 30 with grooves, the rollers 28 and 30 may be interchangeable andidentical in construction, thus facilitating the interchangeability ofparts.

A plurality of guide feet 44 may be mounted on a shaft 46 which issupported by the frame 12. Each of the guide feet 44 may have a screw ora wing nut 48 or other simi lar means at the uppermost end thereof topermit adjustment of the feet 44 along the shaft 4-6. As shown the shaft46 is rectangular to retain proper alignment of the feet 44 with respectthereto and with respect to the surface to be coated.

The surface to be coated may be a continuous web of material or may beindividual sheets of material. The web or sheets of material 50 may bepaper or any other material on which a coating is desired. When aplurality of sheets 50 are to be coated, they are stacked at one end ofthe coating apparatus and individually fed to the rollers 28 and 39. Anyconventional means may be provided for moving the sheets 50 towards therollers 23 and 30.

After the leading edge of each sheet is gripped by the rollers 28 and 30the sheet is moved through the rollers due to the gripping action of theribbing 36 and 38.

Guide belts or other suitable conventional means may be provided to movethe leading edge of each sheet into cooperating engagement with therollers 28 and 36.

A plurality of idler rollers 52 are supported by the machine frame 12.The idler rollers 52 cooperate with the guide belts or other conveyormeans to provide rapid movement of sheets St) towards the coating roller28.

Suitable gearing as is provided for rotating the coating roller 28 andthe driven roller 3d at the same speed. The gearing is conventional andtherefore need not be set forth herein in detail. Either gearing or abelt drive system could be utilized to provide for movement of therollers 28 and 30.

After the sheets 50 have had material 16 coated thereon, they may befolded and cut adjacent the coated material 16. The sheets St are movedpast the rollers 28 and 39 due to the gripping action of the ribbing 36and on said rollers. The sheets 5% may be moved into a folding placemounted adjacent the rollers 28 and 39 or may be received on a conveyorbelt 54 which may be mounted adjacent the rollers 28 and 36. Due to theoffset relationship of the rollers 28 and 38, the sheets 59 will beflexed downwardly and will be forced into engagement with the conveyor 5or any other apparatus which is mounted adjacent the rollers. Thesubsequent operation, such as folding, conveying and/or cutting of thesheets 59 forms no part of the present invention and therefore need notbe discussed herein in detail.

The coating apparatus of the present invention may be used in thefollowing manner. A supply of coating material 1% is provided in thetrough 14. A continuous web of material 5% or individual sheets 5% maybe stacked at one end of the coating apparatus 10. Suitable feed means,such as guide belts or a conveyor means is provided to move the sheets50 through the coating apparatus, under the guide feet 44 intoengagement with the coating roller 28 and the driven roller 39. Thepetcocks 1-2 are opened to a suitable disposition and material 16 flowsthrough the conduits 18 onto the portions 44 of the roller 23. Theroller 28 is rotated and the material on the portions 42 is transferredto the sheets 50 (see FIG. 3).

As the sheet 5%) is moved past the rollers 28 and 30 due to the rotationof the rollers and the gripping effect of ribbing 36 and 38, thin linesof coating material are deposited thereon as determined by the number ofportions 42 which receive coating material from the conduits 18.

After the sheets 50 have had the material 16 applied thereto, they maybe folded and/or cut in accordance with the final use to which suchsheets are to be put.

The present invention has particular utility in applying adhesive topaper sheets which are to thereafter be folded and cut. The material 16may be adhesive which has a thinner consistency than adhesives whichhave been used in the past. The portions 42 of the roller 28 deposit athin line of adhesive 16 on each sheet 50. Two adjacent lines ofadhesive material 16 may be spaced approximately one-quarter inch apartand the sheets 50 may be severed between such lines of adhesive. Theportions 42 of the roller 28 apply a consistent continuous strip ofadhesive to the sheets 50. Should the coating apparatus be jammed ormomentarily stopped, coating material will not spread over the entiresurface of the roller, but rather will fiow into the grooves 40 of theroller 28. The provision of the grooves therefore eliminates thenecessity of cleaning the entire roller 28 should the coating apparatus10 be temporarily stopped. Of course, it is assumed that if theapparatus tended to be stopped for any length of time, the petcocks 22in the conduits 18 will be turned to their closed position so that nosubstantial amount of adhesive will flow through the conduits 18.

The petcocks 22 provide a valve means for selectively controlling theflow of coating material to the portions 42. Depending upon the numberof lines of adhesive which are required for a particular run, the flowof adhesive through selected conduits 18 may be shut off by closing thepetcocks 22.

The coating roller 28 may be easily replaced since it is merely held inplace by several bolts. Rollers having portions 42 in locations,different from those shown in the drawings, may also be utilized.Additional conduits 18 may also be incorporated into the coatingapparatus.

The ribs on the rollers 28 and 3G and the portions 12 and 42' may beapproximately one-thirty-second of an inch in height. In the preferredstructural arrangement of the coating apparatus the coating material isapplied to the portions 42 at a location substantially diametricallyopposed to the location where the portions contact the sheets.

As has been stated hereinabove, other materials, such as cardboard,synthetic materials and cloth may be utilized with the coating apparatusof the present invention. Furthermore, materials other than adhesivesmay be coated onto the surfaces by means of the present invention.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a frame supporting a glue coating roller, meansfor feeding at least one sheet to said coating roller, means on saidroller for contacting said sheet to move said sheet past said roller, acoating material supply means supported by said frame above said roller,said roller having at least one pair of substantially radial, closelyspaced grooves therein, said pair of grooves defining therebetween anarrow portion of the roller, said portion being provided with aserrated surface, means for depositing coating material from saidcoating supply means directly onto said serrated portion of said coatingroller from thereabove, said serrated portion of said roller adapted tovirtually contact said sheet and deposit a thin line of coating materialon said sheet as it is moved past said roller.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for depositingcoating material includes at least one conduit connected to said coatingmaterial supply means at one end and said conduit at its other end beingin direct communication with said roller portion.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on said rollerincludes a plurality of ribs on said coating roller for facilitatingmovement of said sheet past said roller, and wherein said sheet movesbeneath said roller.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a driven roller supportedby said frame, said driven roller having ribs thereon and cooperatingwith said coating roller to move said sheet between said rollers, theaxis of said coating and driven rollers being offset to therebydownwardly deflect said sheet which moves past said coating and drivenrollers.

5. Apparatus comprising a frame supporting a coating roller, means forfeeding at least one sheet beneath said coating roller, sheet movingmeans on said roller at spaced areas therealong for contacting saidsheet to facilitate movement of said sheet past said roller, a

coating material supply means above said roller for supplying coatingmaterial to said coating roller, said roller having a plurality of pairsof substantially radial, closely spaced grooves therein, each of saidpair of grooves defining a portion of said rollers therebetween, saidportion having a serrated surface, means for depositing coating materialfrom said coating supply means directly onto said serrated portions ofsaid serrated coating roller from thereabove, said portions of saidroller each being adapted to deposit a thin line of coating material ona sheet as it moves past said roller.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said sheet movingmeans is substantially wider than each groove and substantially widerthan said serrated portions.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for depositingcoating material includes a plurality of conduits connected to saidcoating material supply means at one end thereof and at their other endbeing in direct communication with said serrated portions of saidcoating roller, said conduits having valve means therein for selectivelycontrolling flow of coating material to said coating roller portions.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each groove isapproximately one-quarter inch wide and approximately one-quarter inchdeep.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sheet moving meansincludes a plurality of ribs on said spaced areas on said roller, saidribs being approximately onethirty-second of an inch high, said portionshaving substantially the same diameter as said sheet moving means, saidportions having ribs thereon, the ribs on said portions cooperating withthe ribs on said sheet moving means to move a sheet past said roller.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said coating materialdepositing means deposits material onto each portion at a locationsubstantially diametrically opposed to the location Where each portioncontacts said sheet and said coating roller being readily replaceable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,069 2/1901 Unger l01-3291,141,311 6/1915 Brogan 118-259 X 1,568,605 1/1926 Hough 118221 X1,634,258 7/1927 Halpin 118-259 X 2,730,989 1/1956 Pearce 118-2212,754,798 7/1956 Tilden 1l8-219 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner.

